Clogher Valley 47 CIYMS 20

Clogher Valley made it ten wins out of ten as they remained five points clear at the top of the Championship Division One table following Saturday’s 47-20 win over CIYMS at The Cran.

CIYMS arrived at The Cran in a mid-table position with four wins from 10 matches.

In their last outing against the Valley, they were defeated seven tries to one.

It was the visitors though who looked the sharpest and controlled the game for the opening three minutes, with the hosts not getting their hands on the ball.

CI converted a penalty after three minutes to lead.

This kickstarted Clogher, who replied immediately.

A CI clearance kick was caught by Ewan Haire, the ball was spread amongst the backs, Haire got the ball back and he chipped through the defensive line, the ball bounced, and Paul Armstrong was the first to pounce on the ball to open the Valley’s scoring.

David Maxwell added the conversion and the Valley led 7-3.

Moments later Eugene McKenna charged down a box kick; at full speed he collected the ball and sprinted in the remaining 40 metres to double Valley’s try count.

David Maxwell added the conversion.

For the next 20 minutes the two teams battled it out between the two 10-metre lines.

The Valley defence was giving the visitors no opportunity to spread the ball and CI were running out of options.

The next try came straight off the training park, a Valley scum 30 metres out was secured, Callum Smyton at number 8 went right, Neill Trotter switched the point of attack to the left and popped to Paul Armstrong, who drew the defenders and popped back inside to Callum Smyton coming at pace, who burst through to score under the posts. Maxwell added the conversion and the Valley led 21-3.

The bonus point try was gained just before the interval, when David Maxwell collected the ball outside his own 22-metre; as he veered left, the CI defence disappeared, so he kept going and going.

Some 30 metres out from the CI try line, Maxwell backed himself and sprinted through to score Clogher’s fourth try. He converted his own try.

CI squeezed in a try before the referee blew for the interval to leave the score 28-8.

The second half started was like the first. CI came out with purpose and hit the rucks first, creating some space for the backs to score their second try.

The Valley settled themselves and started to control the game. Their scrums were dominant, getting penalties for David Maxwell to pump them down the pitch 30-40 metres each time, in an excellent kicking display.

The next try scored by Callum Smyton was a demonstration of the dominant Valley scrum.

A Valley penalty five metres out was taken as a scrum, Smyton showed good control at the back as the scrum was walked over the line. There was now a 20-point gap between both teams as the hosts led 35-15.

The large following of Valley supporters were expecting the floodgates to open, but CI kept in the fight and were rewarded with a third try but couldn’t quite make it to the bonus point try.

At 30 minutes in the second half, the ball was spread out wide and Phillip Wilson, making his first outing for the 1st XV for several years, went through his marker to score in the corner.

Maxwell hit the post with the conversion in what was otherwise a fantastic kicking display all afternoon.

The CIYMS restart didn’t go the 10 metres, so the Valley opted for a scrum.

The ball was spread out to Phillip Wilson by Paul Armstrong, who made 25 metres down the left wing, then popped back inside to Armstrong who raced in for his second try of the afternoon.

The referee blew shortly after, with the hosts winning 47-20.

Philip Wilson was awarded Player of The Match.

There were five changes to what would have been classed as the starting XV a month ago. You could not criticise the replacements, who are settling into this side and producing good performances.

It certainly will give Coach Stephen Bothwell a selection headache.

Next up is an away fixture to City of Derry in the league.

Elsewhere, the Valley Women’s team overcame Rainey 32-12, the 2nd XV beat Banbridge 3rds 29-5, and the 3rd XV went down to a strong Ballyclare side 33-7.

The U-18s took the bragging rights in the match against Virginia with a 20-5 win, especially when the Valley took to the field with only 14 players against a full side with subs. The U-14s won against Monaghan, 36-5.